Wednesday Briefing: Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel

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October 2, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering Iran’s missile attack against Israel and the upcoming vice-presidential debate.

Plus, Jimmy Carter turned 100.

People took cover yesterday as a siren warned of incoming missiles near Kfar Saba, Israel. Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times

Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel

Iran fired several waves of ballistic missiles at Israel, a sudden assault that left Israel fighting simultaneously on three fronts. The attack was a sharp escalation in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran, and raises the likelihood of an all-out war between two of the most powerful militaries in the Middle East. Here’s the latest.

Iran fired about 180 missiles during its assault, the Israeli military said, making the barrage one of the largest of its kind. Many of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s air defense system, while some fell in central and southern Israel, according to the Israeli military. One Palestinian man was killed by falling shrapnel in the occupied West Bank; there were no immediate reports of casualties in Israel.

Background: The attack was the culmination of a dizzying sequence of events over less than 24 hours, beginning with Israel launching an invasion into Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia. Israel pounded Lebanon from the air throughout the day yesterday as its troops advanced on the ground, and Hezbollah fired rockets deep into Israel.

What’s next: The region remains on edge. The Israeli military said it would respond in a manner and time of its choosing, and Iran said it would fire more missiles if Israel counterattacked. A senior White House official said the U.S. would defend Israel, and warned that a direct attack against Israel would “carry severe consequences for Iran.”

Kenny Holston/The New York Times

What to watch for in the vice-presidential debate

The vice-presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz may not have the sizzle of last month’s presidential face-off. But, as the last scheduled debate before Election Day, it could still alter the race.

For both campaigns, the debate is largely a proxy argument for who can better define and defend the visions of the candidates at the top of the ticket — and who can point out inconsistencies. Unlike in the presidential showdown, no microphones will be muted, raising the possibility of a lively exchange of ideas and insults.

We’ll be watching whether Walz’s folksy image or Vance’s cutting communication style will dominate. The Harris campaign has leaned into Walz’s Midwestern dad persona, while Vance has embodied an ultra-online, aggressive version of conservatism that can come off as harsh. Here’s what else to look for.

The debate will air at 9 p.m. Eastern. The Times will livestream the event alongside real-time analysis by reporters. Follow here for live updates.

More on the U.S. election Americans head to the polls in less than 40 days. Ahead of the debate, we fact checked some of the claims the vice-presidential candidates have made on the campaign trail. The presidential election will occur as North Carolina recovers from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Officials are starting to make plans for how it will all work. Donald Trump made a false claim about the Biden administration’s response to the disaster in Georgia, claiming that the state’s Republican governor was “having a hard time getting the president on the phone.” Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we’ll find the answers.

Striking workers at the port in Newark. Bryan Anselm for The New York Times

Port workers went on strike in the U.S.

For the first time in nearly 50 years, port workers on the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. went on strike, a move that will cut off most trade through some of the busiest U.S. ports and could send a chill through the economy.

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association union, which represents roughly 45,000 workers, started setting up pickets after 11th-hour talks failed over an agreement on wage increases and the use of new technology in the ports. Experts say that a short strike would cause little lasting damage but that a weekslong stoppage could lead to shortages, higher prices and even layoffs.

President Claudia Sheinbaum with the presidential sash during her inauguration on Tuesday in Mexico City. Luis Antonio Rojas for The New York Times

Sports

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in May. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Jimmy Carter at a book signing in 2010. Jim Lo Scalzo/European Pressphoto Agency

Jimmy Carter turned 100 yesterday, making him the longest-lived U.S. president in history. But he holds another, less noticed distinction: the most prolific author of any president in a century. Carter has written or co-written 32 books, 20 of which became Times best sellers.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.

Richard Gadd, left, as Donny and Jessica Gunning as Martha in a scene from “Baby Reindeer.” Ed Miller/Netflix, via Associated Press

In ‘Baby Reindeer’ lawsuit, words matter

“Baby Reindeer,” the award-winning Netflix show that follows a comedian dealing with a stalker, begins with a statement: “This is a true story.” A defamation lawsuit against Netflix may boil down to the semantics of that line.

Fiona Harvey has claimed to be the inspiration for the show’s stalker, Martha Scott, and sued Netflix. She said she had experienced panic attacks and faced abuse since the show was released in April. The show does not identify Harvey as the inspiration behind Martha, but according to the lawsuit, online sleuths quickly found Harvey using old social media posts and inundated her with threatening messages.

The show’s creator, Richard Gadd, has said the story is based on his own real-life experience with a stalker. Netflix has defended the series and its depiction of Gadd’s experience. Harvey’s lawyer said a trial would ”vindicate her rights and mistreatment by Netflix.”

Armando Rafael for The New York Times

Bake: This challah recipe is ideal for first-time bread bakers.

Read: The finalists for this year’s National Book Award in the U.S. were announced yesterday. Salman Rushdie’s “Knife” and Diane Seuss’ “Modern Poetry” are among the honorees.

Design: Whether you’re looking for an accent lamp or a subtle strip light, Wirecutter has rounded up five easy smart lighting options.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Gaya

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